The name Vanessa was invented by the Irish writer Jonathan Swift for his friend, Esther Vanhomrigh.
He just took "Van" from her last name and added "Esse", which is a pet form of Esther.
Famous bearers
Bearers include Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937), an English actress;
Vanessa Paradis (born 1972), a French singer and actress;
Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, known as Vanessa-Mae (born 1978), an English classical and pop musician;
Vanessa Carlton (born 1980), an American pop singer, songwriter, and pianist.
